Matrix Embedding Alters the Immune Response Against Endothelial Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

Endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction represents the first manifestation of atherosclerotic disease. Restoration of endothelium via seeding or transfection is hampered by local alterations in flow, inflammation, and metabolic activation. Perivascular EC matrix implants are shielded from these forces and still control vascular repair. The host immune response to such implants, however, remains largely unknown. We investigated the effect of embedding of ECs within 3-dimensional matrices on host immune responses in vitro and in vivo.